I have recently switched my browser to Google Chrome so have no excuse for not trying this one! As you might have gathered from my post about Twitter, I'm not too keen on gratuitous and/or arbitrary communication, so going by the only information I have about Pushnote, that on the CPD23 blog, I was a bit sceptical about this one.
However, even before I signed into Pushnote, it creators have somewhat enterprisingly displayed a plethora of positive comments given about it on its home page and it had the desired effect on me. From the point of sign in though, as with Twitter, I am somewhat confused: the website doesn't seem particularly explanatory as I still have no more idea as to what Pushnote is about, but instead encourages me to create a profile and find friends.
I searched for fellow CPD bloggers who I know have signed into Pushnote, but still find nothing except their names, a picture and their 60 character bio. I then changed my search to the top rated users and unsurprisingly found considerably more information and comments about sites they have visited.
I imagine that if I build up a network of frequent users who comment on library and information websites, this could be very useful for CPD. If I build up a network of users that I find interesting, I imagine it could have the opposite effect by providing too good a distraction!
Friday 15 July 2011
RSS feeds
This I think was the most surprisingly rewarding part of Thing 4. I have successfully managed to add a couple of feeds to my RSS reader in Outlook in about 5 minutes - not a particularly dazzling achievement, but given the way my CPD23 programme has so far been littered with technical hurdles, I'm currently enjoying a slightly disproportionate sense of self-worth!
Bringing myself back down to earth, I can't believe I didn't think of adding my colleagues blogs to my reader when I started the programme - my team ones are already there so it makes perfect sense. However, when I tried to do this, I discovered that I can't create RSS feeds where one doesn't already exist and therefore Shannon's RSS feed of all CPD23 participants should be really useful. I can't see my own blog posts on it though, so am I right in thinking that the list is incomplete?
Anyway, I'm planning on adding more feeds as and when I discover anything that might be useful to my work. I'll treat adding RSS as a continuing exercise, probably starting by looking at those ones recommended by the CPD23 blog.
Bringing myself back down to earth, I can't believe I didn't think of adding my colleagues blogs to my reader when I started the programme - my team ones are already there so it makes perfect sense. However, when I tried to do this, I discovered that I can't create RSS feeds where one doesn't already exist and therefore Shannon's RSS feed of all CPD23 participants should be really useful. I can't see my own blog posts on it though, so am I right in thinking that the list is incomplete?
Anyway, I'm planning on adding more feeds as and when I discover anything that might be useful to my work. I'll treat adding RSS as a continuing exercise, probably starting by looking at those ones recommended by the CPD23 blog.
Before this Thing, not only did I have no desire to join Twitter, I actively disliked it.I thought that there was such as thing as too much sharing and that Twitter epitomised this meme.
Having joined Twitter, I cannot say that I have changed my mind, although in all fairness I did not get far enough to give it a fighting chance: having signed up, chosen my details and added #CPD23 to follow, I clicked on a few random tweets as proffered by Twitter when I listed my first interest as 'books.' Just reading the first few inane, banal posts was enough to discourage me from becoming a part of Twitter and I subsequently deactivated my account.
I do not want to persevere with Twitter: the whole point of this programme is to give professionals tools to enable to work at a better level and I do not feel that Twitter would help me do this. Although this reaction may be a little 'kneejerk,' I feel I ought to trust my own instinct. Perhaps Twitter is an acquired taste and if I come back to it later I will feel more open to the whole experience.
Having joined Twitter, I cannot say that I have changed my mind, although in all fairness I did not get far enough to give it a fighting chance: having signed up, chosen my details and added #CPD23 to follow, I clicked on a few random tweets as proffered by Twitter when I listed my first interest as 'books.' Just reading the first few inane, banal posts was enough to discourage me from becoming a part of Twitter and I subsequently deactivated my account.
I do not want to persevere with Twitter: the whole point of this programme is to give professionals tools to enable to work at a better level and I do not feel that Twitter would help me do this. Although this reaction may be a little 'kneejerk,' I feel I ought to trust my own instinct. Perhaps Twitter is an acquired taste and if I come back to it later I will feel more open to the whole experience.
Tuesday 12 July 2011
Thing 3 Visual brand
As you can see from the background of this blog, my current visual brand, in the blogosphere ate least, is slightly unimaginative. This is not for want of trying, but rather because of a lack of experience of blogspot and a limited time to spend 'playing' with colours, templates and pictures.
I fully agree that the visual impact of someone, whether in person or online, has to be smart, distinct and memorable, so I will try to spend a little more time perfecting my blog's visuals.
I'm not sure that I agree that a visual brand has to be consistent; the major factor that I see in this is time: today I may enjoy a black background and a picture of the American West. In a few years time I might prefer something different, but I am not sure that I would then want to retrospectively change any past blogs.
Another factor in this is audience; although I don't have business cards, I am not sure that I would want them to have the same theme as my blog: whilst a blog can reflect personality, I would want my business cards to reflect nothing but professionalism. Perhaps if and when I have business cards I can think of a compromise..
I fully agree that the visual impact of someone, whether in person or online, has to be smart, distinct and memorable, so I will try to spend a little more time perfecting my blog's visuals.
I'm not sure that I agree that a visual brand has to be consistent; the major factor that I see in this is time: today I may enjoy a black background and a picture of the American West. In a few years time I might prefer something different, but I am not sure that I would then want to retrospectively change any past blogs.
Another factor in this is audience; although I don't have business cards, I am not sure that I would want them to have the same theme as my blog: whilst a blog can reflect personality, I would want my business cards to reflect nothing but professionalism. Perhaps if and when I have business cards I can think of a compromise..
Thing 3 Professional/personal identity
I briefly touched on this in my first post and have somewhat revised my opinion. Whether its simply because I've had time to change my mind, or because other posts have influenced me I'm not sure, but I've come to the conclusion that it is impossible to separate professional and personal, in a blogging environment at least.
I think I've come to this conclusion because to exclude the personal would be to exclude the personality, which would in turn lead to some of the most dry, dull and dreary writings. People read blogs because there is something of interest there, and even if their interest is entirely professional it is the inflection, colour and humour of the writing that invites someone to read on.
I have also reached this decision because a little self-reflection led me to thinking about the way I conduct myself professionally in the library, and indeed, why I was hired. The conclusion I came to was that it is my personality that helped me get the job, in that my employer thought that I would fit well into my team, and my approach and attitude to work that has continued to enable me to do well. Therefore, it would seem rather counter-productive to exclude that part of me from online blogging.
That said, I would still like to maintain a professional focus in this blog and as the name says, will focus on things 'of the library.'
I think I've come to this conclusion because to exclude the personal would be to exclude the personality, which would in turn lead to some of the most dry, dull and dreary writings. People read blogs because there is something of interest there, and even if their interest is entirely professional it is the inflection, colour and humour of the writing that invites someone to read on.
I have also reached this decision because a little self-reflection led me to thinking about the way I conduct myself professionally in the library, and indeed, why I was hired. The conclusion I came to was that it is my personality that helped me get the job, in that my employer thought that I would fit well into my team, and my approach and attitude to work that has continued to enable me to do well. Therefore, it would seem rather counter-productive to exclude that part of me from online blogging.
That said, I would still like to maintain a professional focus in this blog and as the name says, will focus on things 'of the library.'
Thing 3 continued
In the same vein as the previous post, given that I am not confident in applying my name to this blog, I am not willing to post a photograph of myself.
I fully realise that this is somewhat counter-intuitive towards the whole CPD23 process. However I believe that this programme can be used in many ways, and the way I feel it can best be used at the moment is to exercise my blogging muscles, semi-privately. Perhaps if at a later date I look back at this blog and think that it isn't actually too bad I will retrospectively add my name and photo, however, I'm fairly certain that this will not be the case!
I fully realise that this is somewhat counter-intuitive towards the whole CPD23 process. However I believe that this programme can be used in many ways, and the way I feel it can best be used at the moment is to exercise my blogging muscles, semi-privately. Perhaps if at a later date I look back at this blog and think that it isn't actually too bad I will retrospectively add my name and photo, however, I'm fairly certain that this will not be the case!
Thing 3 - name used
So having looked at only the information given in the CPD23 homepage, I've come to view my post below as a little too narrow minded. Although I stand by what I said, i.e. that I am not willing to create a holistic brand for myself, I have come to interpret the term 'brand' differently and think that I can apply and utilise one for myself without having to expose myself online.
Although my blog title is a bit naff, I am happy that it reflects what the blog is intended for and shows in an instant its main content. I am also happy that the title it is not particularly personal; if personality is imprinted on the blog, it is through posts and comments and pictures . This way, those people that associate this blog with the 'real' me are only those who I have shared this information with - it will not come up on a Google search.
I think if I was a more experienced blogger, or more confident in my blogging skills then I would perhaps use my name as the title, but I'm not sure that I'm happy for the entire online community, particularly those of a professional standing, to be able to associate this blog with me! Not particularly helpful in a professional capacity I know, but perhaps this is only a stepping stone towards my flourishing blogging career!
Although my blog title is a bit naff, I am happy that it reflects what the blog is intended for and shows in an instant its main content. I am also happy that the title it is not particularly personal; if personality is imprinted on the blog, it is through posts and comments and pictures . This way, those people that associate this blog with the 'real' me are only those who I have shared this information with - it will not come up on a Google search.
I think if I was a more experienced blogger, or more confident in my blogging skills then I would perhaps use my name as the title, but I'm not sure that I'm happy for the entire online community, particularly those of a professional standing, to be able to associate this blog with me! Not particularly helpful in a professional capacity I know, but perhaps this is only a stepping stone towards my flourishing blogging career!
Wednesday 6 July 2011
Thing 3
This I think is something that would be really useful to start thinking about; although I am only one of 2 people in the UK with my name (according to Google) there are 3 webpages that contain meaningful content about me and these are not related to anything professional. Therefore if I am to build a consistent and consolidated image on the web, here would probably be the best place to start.
However, I' not sure I agree that I want my image on the web to be identical to the image that people see when they meet me in person. I am happy for one to compliment the other when people are aware that both images are 'me,' but I'm not sure that I want my web presence to act as a mirror to my whole person - unlike Jo I do not want to be 'profersonal' in my professional life.
It looks as though I disagree with the concept of the 'branding' of a person, at least when the brand is a mixture of the personal and professional. However, I have yet to read the information provided for Thing 3 on the CPD23 website so maybe I will change my mind!
However, I' not sure I agree that I want my image on the web to be identical to the image that people see when they meet me in person. I am happy for one to compliment the other when people are aware that both images are 'me,' but I'm not sure that I want my web presence to act as a mirror to my whole person - unlike Jo I do not want to be 'profersonal' in my professional life.
It looks as though I disagree with the concept of the 'branding' of a person, at least when the brand is a mixture of the personal and professional. However, I have yet to read the information provided for Thing 3 on the CPD23 website so maybe I will change my mind!
Friday 1 July 2011
Thing 2
I have done a somwhat arbitrary search of the blogs listed on the particiapants page (the search parameters being those with interesting names!) and have found enough information to keep me reading for hours! I'm aware that ready any and all information may be counterproductive (I do have to keep doing my daily work) so I will set aside time to read any interesting links at a later date.
I have re-jigged the settings on this blog to enable me to leave comments as an 'Anonymous user,' but other blogs (sensibly) do not have this setting and will not recognise my blogspot IS or Google Account details - its quite frustrating not being part of the CPD23 'community.'
I am now a bit behind but I'm hoping to (when I finally figure out how to do it) leave comments throughout this exercise. The last couple of weeks haven't presented me with an opportunity to fit CPD23 in so I think I'm going to have to make time! I don't want to commit to something like this and do it half- hartedly.
I have re-jigged the settings on this blog to enable me to leave comments as an 'Anonymous user,' but other blogs (sensibly) do not have this setting and will not recognise my blogspot IS or Google Account details - its quite frustrating not being part of the CPD23 'community.'
I am now a bit behind but I'm hoping to (when I finally figure out how to do it) leave comments throughout this exercise. The last couple of weeks haven't presented me with an opportunity to fit CPD23 in so I think I'm going to have to make time! I don't want to commit to something like this and do it half- hartedly.
Blogging isn't as easy as it looks
For some reason I am having major difficult leaving comments about my posts.. As a first time blogger I expected some hiccups where the extent of my knowledge didn't quite cover what needed to be done, but I was hoping to learn fairly quickly!
As a stopgap I am going to leave my comment to learningdutch in this post, although I'm not sure how useful this will be! In answer to your question, there are a few colleagues doing CPD23 with me; this is helpful as it helps me to not leave it to one side when my usual tasks get in the way! So not 'very driven' - more willing to explore different areas of development wth the support of colleagues.
As a stopgap I am going to leave my comment to learningdutch in this post, although I'm not sure how useful this will be! In answer to your question, there are a few colleagues doing CPD23 with me; this is helpful as it helps me to not leave it to one side when my usual tasks get in the way! So not 'very driven' - more willing to explore different areas of development wth the support of colleagues.
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